Penrose renews calls for single Shannon authority

Deputy Willie Penrose has renewed his call for a single Shannon authority in the wake of the recent Prime Time programme which investigated the response by the authorities to November's catastrophic flooding. The Labour TD, speaking in the Dáil said the programme had highlighted the culture of buck-passing that besets officialdom in Ireland. "It seems to be case that as soon as there is any problem, crisis, or adversity, the first response at official level in Government Departments, local authorities and state agencies, is to run for cover and find somebody else to blame," he said. "Certainly in the case of the Shannon Basin flooding, it is clear that where there is a multiplicity of agencies involved in the management of a complex situation, it is all to easy to play pass the parcel when something goes wrong. For some years, I have argued that there should be a single River Shannon Catchment Authority, to act as an umbrella for all vested interests and stakeholders. It could be in a position to co-ordinate activities and responses from Lough Allen through to the sea in Limerick. It is time to stop foot-dragging and procrastination an establish a single over-arching authority. Deputy Penrose said in 2000 he had published the River Shannon Authority Bill, which he would again call on the Government to consider. "The main purpose of the Bill would be to put a single new authority in place to tackle the problem of flooding, which has dogged the midlands and parts of the west for many years. "The work of this authority could significantly reduce flooding and ensure people in these areas are not left without a livelihood, or a place to live, if flooding recurs. It could have overall responsibility for the management and improvement of the Shannon catchment. He said the proposal would enable a whole range of interests to be represented on the new authority, including representatives from the farming sector, the community, tourism, fisheries and a range of statutory bodies including the Office of Public Works, Bord na Móna, the ESB and the relevant local authorities.